International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

460 EDUCATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY the educational system of the country which is not centralized in the Federal Government, but, in main, is left to each of the forty-eight States. In turn, many of the States grant almost complete autonomy to cities and in some instances to other local school systems within the State. It is obvious that these practices greatly restrict centralized national activity in the nontheatrical film field and complicate this report because of the diversified and sometimes conflicting activities by certain organizations in various parts of the country. Commendable efforts are being made in many places to overcome these difficulties, but there is great need for a strong national films institute in the United States (1) to assemble, edit, classify, publicize, and catalogue non-theatrical film material in existence, and to set up a convenient and economical distribution system ; and (2) to stimulate the production and effective utilization of educational films. Notable progress is being made already, especially in cataloguing non-theatrical films, but centralization of activity and coordination of effort is lacking. d) Amateur Cine In addition to the matography. educational influence of theatrical motion pictures and the direct instructional value of non-theatrical films, a third approach should be made to the place of motion pictures in education, the educational value of amateur cinematography. There are many local clubs of amateur motion picture makers in various cities and metropolitan areas, and thousands of amateur photographers take, develop, and display motion pictures as a recreational activity or hobby. There is an international organization of home motion picture makers with headquarters in New York City. This organization, called the Amateur Cinema League, Inc., is not affiliated with the various national or local amateur clubs, but has individual members all over the world. The Amateur Cinema League publishes the Movie Makers and various bulletins, offers a technical consulting service, and maintains a film exchange for its membersv The educational value of amateur cinematography as a means of individual selfexpression is generally recognized. It also has many useful applications. During the decade in which personal motion picture making has developed, there has been noted a definite and important increase in the practical and non-recreational employment of this medium for such purposes as surgical film recording, scientific filming and the preparation of films for industrial process instruction.] Personally made films are also used by business men as sales aids. In conclusion, the motion picture has been a most successful means for public recreation, but it is preeminently a device for public education, and as such belongs also to the educator. The entire educational system in the United States is apparently on the verge of reorganization and advancement. The development of visual aids to education and especially the motion picture mechanism is a vital causal factor back of new educational processes which are both evolutionary and revolutionary. Visual presentation of subject material has long been considered important, but with motion and sound added, educators have a method and a technique unsurpassed by any previous invention or discovery in human history. The motion picture is an educational medium. It interests, it influences and it informs. It reveals new facts for action. It creates new thoughts for the mind and provides new worlds in which to dwell. It gives vicarious experience. It informs more rapidly than other media, gives greater detail, and produces retention and maturing effects. Manners, customs and attitudes are learned from motion pictures. Social sanctions, religious precepts and legal standards are basic subjects for motion pictures, and when correctly presented become permanent sources of information. These facts have been established and evaluated by experimentation and demonstration. A former U. S. Commissioner of Educa